What advise can you offer to help keep my child happy and healthy in the new school term?

Response from Irene McCabe, naturopathic nutritionist:

ENSURING your child has a healthy diet can work wonders for concentration, alertness sleep, energy, mood swings, stamina and makes for a healthy immune system.

It’s that simple. Or is it?

Some kids don’t like vegetables and are often surrounded by high sugar foods that often have the nutritional value of cardboard. We have all witnessed the aftermath of a sugar feast at a children’s party when kids go into hyper activity mode. It can be a challenge to educate your child in the subject of great quality nutrition but if you can master this it will be one of the greatest lessons you can teach them. It will help with all of the above and will benefit them for a lifetime.

Children only need enough sugar or carbohydrates to match their activity levels. Like adults, what they don’t use up in energy will turn to fat. If your children are allowed the odd treat make sure they are active.

A good, healthy balanced diet, should first and foremost consist of copious amounts of vegetables, preferably local and organic if possible. Good quality meet, fish and eggs. Nuts (if not allergic) or fruit for snacks and brown rice or quinoa. Monitor your children’s reaction to grains particularly wheat and dairy as I see many children in my clinic with intolerances to these products.

If you are worried that your child is not getting what they need from their diet you could supplement with omega 3 flax oil, multi B vitamins and vitamin C.

Response from Nikki Biddiss, medical herbalist:

PARENTS often notice children are tired but this is often because they have been staying up late during the holidays. There is some discussion about whether lying-in at weekends is good or whether we should have the same routine all week. Other research, and common sense, would suggest letting kids catch-up with their sleep when they need to, but establishing earlier bed-times the following week will make getting up more bearable. Don’t let children use phones/tablets/computers or watch TV one hour before bed, as the blue light in the screens can disrupt their natural sleep-wake cycle.

Going to nursery and school can expose the whole family to bugs although giving the immune system a workout is no bad thing! If you feel anyone in the family is particularly susceptible to infections there are a number of herbs which could help support the immune system including Pau D’arco, Cats Claw, Astragalus or Echinacea. I would recommend consulting with a herbalist who can guide you and tailor a herbal blend for each family member.

Some children can feel apprehensive about going to a new school or into a new class. The best thing here is to reassure them and to emphasise all the positive things that change can bring. If nervousness begins to affect sleep or appetite I would recommend using simple herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm or limeflower to soothe nerves.

My advice to parents is to enjoy the peace while you can, the October break isn’t that far away.

Consult your health practitioner before following any advice if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have underlying health issues.